Go Green Hong Kong

What did Hong Kong Government and NGOs do?

Environmental Levy – Bring your own Bag scheme

Bring Your Own Bag for shopping at registered retail outlet, or 50 cents for each plastic shopping bag given out.

Aim sustained reduction in the use of plastic bag and change HK people’s shopping habit.

Environmental Protection Department

Source: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/psb/en/environmental.html

Power Smart Contest 2011

Competitions to engage public to “save energy”. Since 2006, participants are keen in saving electricity to save the environment, and this year, the competition target to reduce 100 million kWh of electricity, and preventing 70,000 tones of CO2 in accumulation.

Friends of the Earth

Source: http://www.foe.org.hk/powersmart/2011/index.html

Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme

Grand 1 to 5, to grades the energy efficiency on a scale, with one being the most efficient and five the least, applies to wide range of Home appliances.

Brands are encouraged to apply the labels to their products, to encourage and promote the energy saving message to consumer, in a sense to show they cares about the environment.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services

Department

Source: http://www.gov.hk/tc/residents/environment/energy/efficiencylabel.htm

What did Hong Kong’s brand do?

HSBC

Climate Partnership:HSBC's key environmental program is The HSBC Climate Partnership, which brings together world renowned charities to tackle the causes and impacts of climate change. 

The HSBC Climate Partnership aims to combat the threat of climate change by inspiring individuals, businesses and governments worldwide.

Hong Kong’s key local bank

Partners:

HSBC

Environmentally friendly materials:HSBC strives to use environmentally friendly materials in their products and services wherever possible. They also support and encourage the suppliers to adopt environmentally friendly practices to minimise the impacts on environment.

Hong Kong’s key local bank

The Kowloon Motor Bus Co.Advertising campaign to bring up Hong Kong green life with headline “Good Environment, Good Future for Hong Kong”

Hong Kong’s key public transport provider

What are people attitudes towards the environment?Hong Kong people’s awareness of green living is still at the rudimentary stage and their personal commitment needs to be enhanced for them to actively practice green living.

A survey of local college found that many people (40 percent of Hong Kong people) are undecided about whether the government’s publicity campaigns on green living are effective. It reflected that the current strategies adopted by the government may not be appropriate because they only raise the issue without providing a deeper understanding.

Conclusion

Despite the current rules, regulations, laws on environmental protection/sustainability, Government should adopt a more proactive attitude in promoting green living and that the current policy is not stringent enough to compel people to change their behavior.

The relative success of the recent plastic bag levy scheme has as much to do with people’s willingness to accept the measure as it does to the firm stand taken by the government.

Clarity and simplicity to induce consumers’ self-initiative is vital for them to take action!